Smoke-consuming apparatus for locomotive-boilers.



No. 764,304. A A PATENTED' JULY 5, 19.04. F. s. & F. R. PLEASONTON.

SMOKE GONSUMING APPARATUS FOR LOGOMOTIVE BOILERS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1904.

NO MODEL.

W Din Lem eo' UNITE {STATES iatented. July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

. FRANK STEPHEN PLEASONTON AND FRANK RODNEY PLEASONTION, OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SMOKE-CONSUMING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTlVE-BOILERS.

sPncIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,304, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed March 16, 1904:. Serial No. 198,521. (No model.)

the city of Philadelphia, county of PlIlhLdGl'.

phia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smoke-Consuming Apparatus for Locomotive-Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates particularly to smoke consuming apparatus for locomotive-boilers.

Our main objects are to provide for utilizing the movement of the locomotive when in service in producing a current or draft through a return-flue connecting the smoke-box with the fire-box, whereby, the unconsumed products of combustion are mainly returned to the latter, to provide, further, for producing a forced current or draft for the same purpose by means'of steam, and to furnish in connection with the unconsumed products of combustion thus returned to the fire-box a regulated supply of air directly blended therewith or introduced through the main body of fuel, whereby the most complete combustion practicable may be attained.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accom panying drawingjilustrating a preferred form of apparatus embodying the same, and the novel features are specifically pointed out in the claims.

The drawing shows a longitudinal section of a locomotive-boiler having our improvements applied thereto, only so much thereof being shown as is required to clearly explain the invention.

A represents the cylindrical shell of the boiler, through which extend flues B, connecting the fire-box C with the smoke-box D, all of which may be of ordinary construction.

As already stated, our invention relates exclusively to the improved mechanism provided for returning to the fire-box unconsumed products of combustion carried through the flues to the smoke-box, which mechanism will now be described.

E represents a horizontal return-flue for such unconsumed products ofcombustion.

This flue, as shown, is open at its forward end 1 to the atmosphere and has also an opening 2 adjacent to said forward end communicating'with the smoke-box. A bafiie-plate 3, extending partially into the return-flue forward of said opening 3, serves to divert rearwardly the outflow from the smoke-box into said line, so that it will be naturally carried toward the tire-box by the inflowing current of air through the open forward end 1 of the flue. This inflowing current is naturall y produced by the forward movement of the locomotive when in service; but we provide also for positively producing such a rearward flow through the line as required by means of a rearwardly-directed steam-jet through anannular outlet 4 from an annular steam-chamher 5, surrounding the open end 1 of the lines, steam being supplied to said chamber by suitable means as desired.

The return-flue E is carried rearwardly from the smoke-box to a convenient opening or openings 6 into the fire-box, with which it communicates and through which the returned products of combustion are delivered into the fire-box at a proper distance above the firegrate F. At this discharge-outlet from the line into the fire-box we provide in the flue a nozzle 7, having a valve 8 and a conduit 9, extending, as shown, to an air -scoop 10, formed beneath the ash-pit G of the boiler. This air-scoop, as shown, is of increasing depth toward its open forward end 11, and the ash-pit is provided with an adjustable bottom 12, hinged at its rear end 13 and provided at its forward end with a suitably-operated adj Listing-lever 14, whereby it may be raised or lowered, as desired. The effect of thus regulating this adjustable bottom 12 of the ashpit is to vary the proportionate inflow of air going respectively through the ash pit to the fire-grate and through the conduit 9 to the nozzle 7, thereby enabling the operation in connection with the independently-operatecl valve 8 to control the respective inflows of air through the grate and through the nozzle 7 as may be required to secure the best results under varying conditions. The extension 15 of the return-flue beyond the discharge-outlet therefrom into the fire-box provides for the escape of such portion of the products of combustion as are not returned to the fire-box. In connection with this discharge extension 15 of the return-flue we preferably employ a steam-nozzle 16, to which is supplied low-pressure saturated steam,where by the discharge products of combustion are dampened, and thus prevented from rising and causing trouble.

The operation of our improved apparatus has been clearly indicated in connection with the above description thereof. It will be readily seen that the movement of the locomotive in a forward direction will produce a more or less rapid inflow of atmospheric air through the open forward end 1 of thereturn-fiue and through the air-scoop 1O beneath the fire-box,

. both of which combine to carry rearward the products of combustion and to deliver a regulated portion thereof into the fire-box. Steam may also be employed as described when desired, and it is obvious that the nozzle 7 may be provided with a steam-supply by merely making the valve 8 a three-way cock, for instance, so as to adapt it to deliver either air or steam in regulated quantity to said nozzle.

The particular construction described may evidently be modified in matters of detail without departing from our invention.

That we claim is- 1. In a locomotive-boiler the combination with the fire-box and smoke-box, of a returnflue extending from the smoke-box to the firebox, said flue having a lateral opening near its open forward end into the smoke-box,an annular steam-chamber and nozzle inclosing said open end whereby a forced rearward current of blended air steam and products of combustion is produced in said flue, and an independently-adjustable air-nozzle at the fire-box outlet of said fiue whereby the proportions and velocity of the blended steam is regulated, substantially as set forth.

2. In a locomotive-boiler the combination with the fire-box and s1nokebox,of a returnfiue extending from the smoke-box to the firebox, an ash-pit beneath the fire-box having an adjustable bottom, an air-scoop beneath said bottom having a connected air-nozzle discharging into the fire-box with the discharge from said return-flue, and means for adjusting said bottom to regulate the air-delivery.

3. In a locomotive-boiler the combination with the fire-box and smoke-box, of a returnflue extending from the smoke-box to the firebox, an ash-pit having an adjustable bottom, an air-scoop beneath said bottom having a connected air-nozzle discharging into the firebox with the discharge from said return-flue,

and air-nozzle.

4. In a locomotive-boiler the combination with the fire-box and smoke-box, of a returnflue extending from the smoke-box to the firebox, a rearward discharge extension of said flue beyond the fire-box outlet thereof, and a steam-nozzle in said extension whereby saturated steam is utilized to dampen the discharging products of combustion.

In testimony whereof we'afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK STEPHEN PLEASONTON. FRANK RODNEY PLEASONTON.

Witnesses:

E. C. RHoADs, HARRY Romans PRATT.

and separate means for adjusting said bottom v 

